You r R ykneld RYKNELD HOMES CUSTOMERS MAGAZINE WINTER 2018 Changes to water Shared Ownership New on-line rent collection homes service See page 5 See page 7 See page 20 Welcome ast year was a fantastic one for LRykneld Homes as we celebrated our 10th anniversary and in 2018 we look forward to more new and exciting developments across the district. We will continue to work in partnership with North East Derbyshire District Council to build more new homes in our area and regenerate older properties to Supporting events in Dronfield See page 13 bring them up to modern standards. We are busy replacing older homes in North Wingfield with brand new properties, that will offer modern, thermally efficient accommodation. Some of the homes are being offered on a Shared Ownership basis – which helps Contents people to gain their first step on the housing ladder. You can find out more about our development at Wingfield Court by turning to page 7 04 New Homes We are also working in partnership with Community Spirit Award winners! contractors and other housing organisations to build new homes in Congratulations to our worthy winners Stonebroom, Wingerworth and Calow. These will be a mix of properties available for rent, shared ownership and to buy – to find out more about these schemes visit our website at 05 www.rykneldhomes.org.uk. Water Charge changes Tenancy Agreement Important information about changes to This issue of Your Rykneld contains water charge collection important information about proposed changes to your Tenancy Agreement. From April, Severn Trent Water will be 7 collecting your water charges, rather than the District Council and you should have Shared Ownership homes received information from the Council and Severn Trent Water about the changes. Discover more about our exciting Shared Ownership offer in North Wingfield Community Spirit winners Finally, we would like to say congratulations to the winners of our Community Spirit Awards for 2017. 20 Good neighbours, sports groups and Get on-line for My Account community organisations are the unsung heroes of our district. They are the people Find out more about our new on-line who are willing to go the extra mile, or customer service My Account give their time and effort for nothing, for the benefit of others. Our Awards celebrate your achievements and your success marks a great start to 2018! 2 YOUR RYKNELD JANUARY 2018 News brief Cooking up a storm! ur Community Involvement Team has been Orunning some fantastic cookery workshops in local communities across the district. One of the workshops has been in Holmewood where we ran an eight-week course to encourage people to cook and eat healthy meals. The course was completely free and open to everyone, whether they were an experienced cook or an absolute beginner. The sessions were friendly and fun, and people had the chance to Congratulations to the Holmewood group who meet new people and learn tasty new recipes. attended all our cooking sessions We cooked together and ate together. Gained new confidence Here to help One of the attendees, Becci, said: "I have gained confidence in how to cook more recipes and it's been really good to meet new We are holding a number of people at these sessions. I never used to cook meals from drop-in sessions across the district scratch before coming to this workshop but now I've been to give you the chance to discuss cooking food for my family and it's gone down a storm! any Anti-Social Behaviour or I liked the shepherd’s pie that we learnt to cook, there were tenancy support issues you ingredients in there that I don't normally eat but I still ate it and might have. enjoyed it, so it must have been good! Our Community Sustainment I also cooked a curry for my family following the recipe that I Team will be on hand for a learnt at this session and that went down well! confidential chat if you are suffering Anti-Social Behaviour or Tastier and healthier have concerns about a neighbour Now that this course has finished I will continue to cook from who may be in need of support, scratch. It's tastier and healthier and you know exactly what goes or at risk or suffering abuse. in your meal. It's also cheaper than buying the ready meals that I If you want to attend, either used to get from the supermarket." drop in to one of the sessions or We have also held cookery sessions in Eckington and Renishaw contact our Community where the reaction has been very positive. Sustainment Team to make an Look out on our website www.rykneldhomes.org.uk for more appointment on 01246 217390 or cookery courses this year. 01246 217301. Killamarsh – 15 February, 15 March, 12 April at Killamarsh Area Housing Office. All dates 1pm – Shortlisted for top awards! 4pm. Clay Cross – 20 February, 20 We are proud to have been shortlisted for two March, 17 April at Clay Cross Area top awards in our region. Housing Office. All dates 1pm – Rykneld Homes has made the final in the 4pm. Building Communities East Midlands Awards, Dronfield – 6 March, 3 April, 1 which celebrate the best in public and private May. Dronfield One Stop Shop. All sector organisations. dates 1pm – 4pm. We have been shortlisted in the Training North Wingfield – 1 March, 29 category for our work to help people into jobs March, 26 April. North Wingfield and training. We have also been shortlisted for Area Housing Office. All dates 1pm Registered Social Housing Provider of the Year. – 4pm. The winners will be announced in February. YOUR RYKNELD JANUARY 2018 3 COMMUNITY SPIRIT WINNERS Community Spirit Awards 2017 Community Spirit Awards 2017 Community Spirit winners! Congratulations to the winners of our 2017 Community Spirit Awards. Winner of the Good Neighbour Award Winner of the Community Group Award Wendy Hardwick, from Pilsley was nominated by her The Stonebroom Youth Club won the Community neighbour Diane Porter, who said: "Wendy has done Group Award. lots for me and for others and has given so much of They were nominated for their contribution to the her time to this community. I love reading the Your young people of Stonebroom and surrounding Rykneld magazine and keeping up-to-date with villages. Kenneth Dawes - who made the Rykneld Homes and when I saw the Community Spirit nomination - said, "Melanie and Rob do a sterling Awards I knew I had to nominate Wendy. She job for no remuneration, they are a credit to the deserves to win this award and have something back area. They aren’t frightened of tackling anything and for her efforts." they have encouraged membership to the group Wendy said: "I was really shocked and amazed which is now thriving. They provide so much help to when I found out I had won! I couldn’t believe that the community." someone thought so highly of me. Melanie Dawes, who runs the Youth Club, said "It "In Pilsley we have a marvellous community and is fantastic to be recognised for all the hard everyone looks out for each other. Children here wave voluntary work that goes in to running this club. I and run over to me to say hello when I’m out and don’t do this to receive anything, but it is nice for us about. I’ve never made so many friends in my life as I to be recognised. have whilst living here. The whole village get involved "I will put this money towards purchasing new in local events and it’s just a brilliant community." equipment ready for Summer this year, so we have lots of activities to do outside. "These types of community groups give children somewhere to go where they can meet up and socialise with their friends and engage in activities together.” 4 YOUR RYKNELD JANUARY 2018 WATER CHARGES Water Charges Starting from 1 April 2018, Severn Trent Water has taken the decision to bill you directly for your water. That means it will no longer be an option to pay your water alongside your rent. Severn Trent Water will be in touch with you to ensure you receive the best level of service to suit you and your needs. If you already have a water meter, the service and billing arrangements you currently have in place will stay the same. Help to pay your bill If you are having trouble paying your water bill, Severn Trent can offer help and support. They can be contacted on 03456 022 777 . Free water meter You may save money by having a meter fitted. Contact 0345 709 0646. How to pay your bill Severn Trent offers a number of options for WaterSure - If you are on low income and already paying your bill. have a water meter and use a lot of water you can apply for WaterSure which offers capped water Direct Debit – this is the easiest and most bills for a year. convenient way of paying your bill. Watercard plan – With a Watercard you can Water Direct - If you receive certain benefits, make payments at your local PayPoint store. such as Universal Credit or Jobseeker’s Allowance Payment book – You can take a payment book you may be able to have deductions taken directly into any bank, building society or Post Office from your benefits to help pay your bill. and make regular payments. Water Direct – You may be able to have Severn Trent Trust Fund - If you are suffering payments deducted directly from your benefits.